More Than a Catchphrase: What "Bring Your Own Better (BYOB)" Means at Better Rhodes
By Daniel Stiller, CEO of Better Rhodes
For decades, seeing BYOB on an invitation meant one thing. You grabbed a standard six-pack or a quick bottle of wine on your way to a party. But the way we socialize is shifting, and today, "Bring Your Own Better" means taking charge of your night so you never have to settle for whatever is left in the cooler.
Welcome to the new era of BYOB. To me, this concept is not just a catchy marketing tagline. It is a fundamental upgrade to how we gather.
The Ultimate Pivot: Bring & Host Your Own Better
Here is the most important part of this entire philosophy. The biggest impact of Bring Your Own Better does not happen when you are the guest. It happens when you are the host.
Throwing a fantastic party means anticipating what your friends need before they even must ask. At the start of a typical gathering, maybe 20% of your guests are not drinking. They might be driving, pacing themselves, or just taking a night off.
But pay close attention to what happens at the end of the evening. As the night winds down, that number shifts drastically. Suddenly, close to 80% of the room is looking for a non-alcoholic option. They want to stay social. They want to keep a drink in their hand and keep the conversation going, but they are done with alcohol for the night.
If you are only offering plain seltzer at 11 PM, you are missing a massive opportunity to be a great host. A truly welcoming environment means the non-alcoholic cooler is just as vibrant and exciting as the traditional bar.
The Power of Intentional Choice
Whether you are hosting or attending, Bring Your Own Better is a personal commitment to your own experience.
I do not always drink non-alcoholic beverages. But when I make the choice at the beginning of an evening to take the night off, I want great options around me. Whether we are raising a glass for a major milestone, hosting a Sunday brunch, or just pouring a drink as our kind of therapy after a long week, the days of settling for tap water in the corner are over.
Founder’s Subscription Pick
"As a host, I never want to guess if I have enough variety. My personal hack? I rely on our monthly beer subscription to keep my fridge stocked with the latest vetted finds so I’m always ready for that 11 PM pivot."
Taking a break from alcohol should never mean taking a break from flavor. Skipping the booze is no longer a compromise. It is a confident, mindful upgrade.
People often ask me where to start if they are exploring this category for the very first time. I always point them straight to the cocktails. When I am loading up my tote bag for a weekend trip, I almost always reach for the Sir James 101 lineup. Pouring their Pink G&T, Aperitivo Spritz, or Mojito over ice feels like a genuine occasion.
You get the complexity and ritual of a crafted drink without the alcohol. And if I am in the mood for a classic beer, popping open a Wild AF is a personal favorite that never disappoints.
Clearing the Path
I have the luxury of easily grabbing those favorites now, but it was not always that simple. To understand what "Better" really means to our community, you must look at how this company started.
A frustrating search gave birth to the whole idea. Our founder, Chris Becker, was on a family vacation working from a coffee shop in Hermosa Beach. He wanted a decent non-alcoholic beer, but the options at the local grocery store were terrible. He knew incredible innovation was happening in the industry, but getting those drinks meant paying massive shipping fees or ordering bulk quantities just to guess if a bottle was going to disappoint.
He knew he could not be the only one frustrated by this process. So, we built the exact marketplace he was looking for that day.
We named the company with a very distinct purpose. "Better" represents our community striving to elevate their experiences. "Rhodes" draws from an Old English term meaning a clearing in the woods. That is precisely what we do. We are here to clear the path to a premium drinking experience and remove the guesswork entirely.
How to Stock Your Premium Non-Alcoholic Marketplace Favorites
This matters because connection matters. It is about making sure every single person in the room feels celebrated from the first arrival to the final goodbye.
You do not have to spend hours hunting down these options. Our team does the heavy lifting for you by tasting and expertly vetting every single bottle on our shelves. We only partner with makers who prioritize authentic flavor, so you can shop with absolute confidence.
Whether you are attending a weekend cookout or hosting your own backyard gathering, take control of your evening. Head over to the Better Rhodes marketplace today. Find your personal favorites.
Take the guesswork out of hosting. Join our community of subscribers and get a curated selection of the world's best NA drinks delivered to your door every month.